For example, if I were invited to speak at or attend an event that’s unrelated to my day job, I would say yes. There’s no guarantee, but in my experience, 80 percent of the time, when you take these small risks, something interesting happens. Maintain a growth mindset and remain alert because something routine in one industry can be revolutionary in another. The focus on diversity and inclusion is also consistent with this approach, because it provides a pipeline for productive accidents. This has also evolved into a framework for networking—make a connection, keep talking until you find something you both care about, and then collaborate.
My book is also influenced by the “lean startup” approach to entrepreneurship. The old way to innovate was to spend an entire budget trying to build the perfect product. The new way is to spend as little as possible on a prototype, which gives you the chance to get feedback from customers. I’m treating my book, Productive Accidents, as that prototype—that’s why “Version 0.0” is written on the cover. I want the people who read it with their different perspectives to send me their feedback and suggestions for what should happen next. Each time there’s a new connection that turns into a new collaboration, it forms the basis for another chapter or another version of the book. That’s where the fun is—finding ways for work and play to converge is a key message of the book.
The book focuses on 10 insights I’ve discovered since graduating in 2010, inspired by many “productive accidents.” It’s relevant for anyone that’s interested in creativity and innovation because it shows you how to keep experimenting, powered by Professor Burt’s research: put yourself at risk of productive accidents, trust the process, and wait for the magic to happen.